[Voice / Written]

[fierybluebird]

Yo. I'm back. Longest month of my life, including that time I dyed my hair black.

Did anyone remember to water and feed Ace while I was gone? Take him for walks and make sure he got sun and all that?

[There's a pause and the fluttering of wings along with a mutter.] Damn this new book system is strange... [But he speaks back up again trying to sound more chipper.]

So what did I miss? Did the entire landscape change? Any new books about pirates at the library, eh?

[For those who know him well, Marco actually sounds pretty exhausted for a change, and lacking some of his usual ridiculousness.]

Comments

[action]

[hiken_ace]

[He doesn't even hesitate to hug back and take in the warmth. He keeps his face buried in Marco's shoulder, still shaking a little. "Fix it"... someone wanted to fix it. That meant the world to him. His blood didn't mean a thing to nakama, and that made him happier than he ever thought he could be.]

... thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you... it means everything to me. Thank you.

[action]

[fierybluebird]

[Ahhhh he's going to start crying... Okay holding it together.]

Damn kid. I can't tell you enough. All of the crew, all of us feel that way. We came to get you because we love you, because you would have done the same for any of us and we know it. And it doesn't matter if you're by a blood a tenruubito or related to Davy Jones, you're Pops' son, you're one of us, and that will never change. Once you're accepted, you're with us forever.

[Mumbles and tearing up now, holding Ace tight.] I'm glad you're alive here.

[action]

[hiken_ace]

[How he wishes the rest of the world would believe that. That way, he might have been able to have some peace with himself. He holds on tightly to Marco, refusing to let go of one of the few people here who didn't care what his background was.]

... I'm glad, too. I'm really, really glad. [Though the tears coming down his face may seem to suggest he's not. But really. He's glad.

[action]

[fierybluebird]

Good. Don't you forget it. [Just holds onto him forever and lightly pets Ace's hair.]

[action]

[hiken_ace]

I won't... I swear I won't. [He trembles a little and quietly sobs into Marco's shoulder. He just wants to stay there.]

[action]

[fierybluebird]

And if you do, then I'll be right here to remind you ten thousand times over, eh?

[action]

[hiken_ace]

[He gives a shaky nod.] Mhm. Good.

[He doesn't have much else to say. He just keeps hugging him to feel secure. And not lonely.]